Posted on 05/30/2021 3:26:34 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
If you use Alexa, Echo, or any other Amazon device, you have only 10 days to opt out of an experiment that leaves your personal privacy and security hanging in the balance.
On June 8, the merchant, Web host, and entertainment behemoth will automatically enroll the devices in Amazon Sidewalk. The new wireless mesh service will share a small slice of your Internet bandwidth with nearby neighbors who don’t have connectivity and help you to their bandwidth when you don’t have a connection.
By default, Amazon devices including Alexa, Echo, Ring, security cams, outdoor lights, motion sensors, and Tile trackers will enroll in the system. And since only a tiny fraction of people take the time to change default settings, that means millions of people will be co-opted into the program whether they know anything about it or not.
Amazon has published a white paper detailing the technical underpinnings and service terms that it says will protect the privacy and security of this bold undertaking. To be fair, the paper is fairly comprehensive, and so far no one has pointed out specific flaws that undermine the encryption or other safeguards being put in place. But there are enough theoretical risks to give users pause.
Wireless technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have a history of being insecure. Remember WEP, the encryption scheme that protected Wi-Fi traffic from being monitored by nearby parties? It was widely used for four years before researchers exposed flaws that made decrypting data relatively easy for attackers. WPA, the technology that replaced WEP, is much more robust, but it also has a checkered
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Alexi, shutdown.
“I’m sorry, Dave. I can’t let you do that.”
>Once upon a time I thought one of those devices could be handy.
>Now I won’t have one in my home. I have a washer/dryer that >*CAN* connect to the internet, but they don’t have the >internal password, so they are not allowed online.
Most IOT devices do not require a password to connect to your router, I know the Echo dot does not, never gave it a password and it didn’t ask but it still got an IP and connected online. Same with 5 IP webcams I got, 2 different manufacturers, all get an IP and connect without ever been given a password. Somehow it works around it. DHCP is enabled so maybe it exploits that but trying to make a point no password was ever given to these things
Yup I got the A.I. device. Plugged in and hooked it up. It was interesting, but unplugged it. Noticed it had a very good mic and could hear me in other rooms whispering its name. So the only time I would plug it in is if I need a weather or traffic report, and then I unplug it.
To be honest I have not used it in over 2.5 years. It just sits there unplugged. I would have thrown it in the garbage, but I did not want to upset a loved one that gave it to me as a Christmas gift.
Some libtard just invented free internet for the homeless.
So how do we opt out?
The article tells you how.
I was specifically talking about any traffic that is connected through an amazon device.
but I am guessing that they are going to use it like the former whisper net for kindle devices, and for the tile trackers of course.
like I said I don’t assume amazon is being a bad actor here
Ah, American wood and drywall construction.Won’t work to well through my thick concrete and rebar walls…
Twitter and Facebook have already banned any mention of it.
Pull the plug.
I’ll have to re-read the manuals. Again. I’ll unplug the damned things between loads if I have to. It’s not the mfr’s business when and how many loads I do.
I don’t get what you don’t understand.
Amazon has decided that they can interpret the “terms of use” for a device they “sold” you to include their use of your access to the Internet.
With GPS devices and the password you’ve given them, they can enable other devices in your area to access your WiFi.
Of course, they charge for this, and they don’t pay you.
Your assessment of a bad actor leaves much to be desired.
Or the illegals.
Man that’s really creepy. I heard they can also activate the camera and record what the see and hear.
Alexa, my neighbor is out of town, turn on their bath water. I’ll let you know what day to turn it off.
I make great and frequent use of Alexa at home. Anything I have to say that I don’t want shared is done outdoors, away from all electronics and only with those I trust most.
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Got eight of the Echo Dots in the house. I love music. Not spending thousands on music when basically everything from 103.5 Retro Cebu to 103.5 The Fox (Denver) is just a request away. Father-in-law wants his old ‘50s classics, it’s there. I want my classic rock? It’s there. I want to check on the kids from London in Cebu, I can listen in. I want to control lighting, I just ask it to.
Try doing any or all of that with a non-internet connected device.
“This is as creepy as I can imagine, and I’m sure it will get even more intrusive.”
It might, and oh BTW, you left your water running yesterday but I shut it off for you from my remote after I got an alert.
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